Arrests in celebrations of Mexico World Cup win

HUNTINGTON PARK, Calif. (AP) — Several people were detained in the Los Angeles area after celebrations of Mexico's advancement into the next round of soccer's World Cup grew rowdy and poured into streets, authorities said.

In the small city of Huntington Park, police said two people were arrested for for public drunkenness, another for refusing to leave the area after an afternoon celebration, and one woman was arrested for throwing a bottle at a police horse.

Most of the dozens of fans who waved Mexican flags and celebrated on streets and sidewalks throughout Monday afternoon and evening were peaceful.

But police had to force a late-night crowd of at least a hundred people in Pacoima to disperse when they filled streets, set off fireworks and prompted the shutdown of freeway ramps. At least 10 people were detained.

A sergeant at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department station in Lynwood told the newspaper deputies arrested a "handful" of people in connection with the celebrations Monday night, but had no further details.

Mexico beat Croatia 3-1 earlier to advance to the World Cup's knockout round.

Huntington Park has a history of unruly and excessive revelry after Mexico's World Cup play. The city of roughly 58,000 has a population that is 97 percent Latino, according to the most recent 2010 census data.

In June 2010, fans celebrated Mexico's win over France as crowds poured onto Pacific Boulevard and officers in riot gear stood guard. In November 2001, about 1,000 people streamed into the central business district after Mexico's victory over Honduras in World Cup qualifying, and unruly fans tossed rocks and bottles and smashed windows.

In June 1998, throngs filled the streets and more than 30 people were arrested for vandalism, assault and failure to disperse after Mexico tied Netherlands to advance. Days later, dozens more people were arrested after small groups of fans turned unruly following Mexico's loss to Germany.

And when the World Cup was held in Pasadena in 1994, Huntington Park suffered an outbreak of violence and looting.